Mineral Exploration is the official publication of the Association of Mineral Exploration British Columbia.
Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/370216
F A L L 2 0 1 4 17 palm of their hand. Clients have com- mented on how natural it feels to be able to inspect their data in this fashion." Of course, the communication power of three-dimensional, physical models has long been recognized within the resource sector, and many such have been created over the years to showcase ore deposit geometries, pit outline and infrastructure layouts, as well as mill and processing circuit operations. However, t hese models are extremely t ime- consuming and costly to manufacture, requiring highly specialized skills and facilities, and may be extremely fragile. In the fast-moving world of commercial resource extraction it is also a very real possibility that the model will become obsolete before it is even completed. Rapidly produced, easily updated and endlessly replicable 3D printed models may overcome all of these limitations. Elizabeth Miller, manager of envi- ronmental affairs for Seabridge Gold, says her company has been using 3D models for more than two years. "We ini- tially developed one model for important meetings with government regulators. Based on the response . . . a second model was also created. The two KSM project models have been used at numerous gov- ernment regulator meetings, community meetings, open houses and trade shows. We've received positive feedback on the models from many Treaty and First Nations members, community members and government offi cials and regulators who tell us that the KSM project is much easier to imagine when its replica is pre- sented in 3D format." Although current high-profi le appli- cations of 3D printing are dominated by its potential for presentation and com- munication, applications of a more sci- entifi c ilk are looming on the horizon. Coupling the intuitive manipulation and tactile benefi ts of 3D printing technol- ogy with the non-destructive analytical powers of CT scanning may allow novel investigation of complex, three-dimen- sional problems such as pore network analysis for oil and gas production, or fi ne-scale mineral relationships within mineral and metallurgical processing. It is doubtless that more interesting and innovative applications will appear in due course, and with up-front and run- ning costs of 3D printers tumbling every year, it may very well be that future gen- erations come to regard the 3D printer as every bit as ubiquitous as the office photocopier is today. MBI Pacific Drilling Products Ltd. Full line manufacturer of wireline parts and accessories Drill Rods & Casing, Corebarrels & Spares Adapters, Diamond Products, Pump Parts, Rod Grease Drilling Additives, Absorbent Products, Sur veying Tools Official BC Distributor of Reflex Instruments and AMC Drilling Fluids Kelowna • SaSKaToon • SmiTherS • whiTehorSe Ph: 778-753-5670 jcampbell@mbidrillingproducts.com www.mbidrillingproducts.com MBI Pacific Drilling.indd 1 13-10-30 3:35 PM